Clearing up a few questions regarding the Whole30 (60) Challenge

We’ve had great participation from many of you on the challenge so far; as well as some awesome success!

4 pounds lost in the first 3 days

7 pounds lost in the first 2 days

More awareness about food choices

Being more vigilant about reading food labels

There has also been some really good conversations that have led to questions that might help all of you:

Can I cook with wine, beer, etc?

When you cook with alcohol, the ethanol (what makes it boozy, and what we are avoiding) is burned off, so not present anymore. With that said, beer and most spirits DO contain grains, so they should still be excluded. For flavor, it is OK to cook with wine and grain-free spirits (tequila)

What if I don’t want to eat eggs every day for breakfast?

Eggs are a great option for breakfast – they are packed with protein, are quick, can be cooked in a number of different ways, and lend themselves to a vast number of different flavors. With that said, though, they do not HAVE to be your food of choice for breakfast. I often find myself eating leftover chili for breakfast, or sausages that I have grilled up the night before. In essences, it is important to get away from the constructs of what “breakfast foods” should be. They can be anything! Play around with how you season your foods, and you might just find that your ideal breakfast is actually seared chicken thighs rubbed with cinnamon and coriander along with sauerkraut and avocado.

Maybe a little Salmon Hash instead of eggs for breakfast?

I’m really hungry. Why isn’t this working? You said I would be full.

Often times when eliminating grains and legumes from our plates, we forget to refill that space with more vegetables, and possibly larger portions of protein. Make sure that you are getting in AT LEAST 2 different vegetables at each meal (even breakfast). What I always say is, “set your protein, and then FILL your plate with vegetables.” This will add satisfying protein and fat to your meal, and physical bulk in the form of fibrous veggies to keep you full.

Why is my thirst “off”?

Since we have eliminated ALL processed foods, your sodium intake has probably dropped immensely. Because of this, you might not be as thirsty as you were previously (salt craves water in the body). What you CAN do, is salt your foods a little bit, as you’ll need a little anyways. You are also taking in more vegetation, which also has a good amount of water inherently in its composition, possibly keeping your thirst down.

You might also be MORE thirsty. As the grains and starches have been removed from our plates, our bodies will naturally release water (partly responsible for the great early weight loss). This will make us more thirsty as we try to recreate that internal hydration status that we have become accustomed to.

Keep the questions coming, and keep hammering those tasty Whole30 meals! The pictures have been looking great, as well as all of the enthusiasm. Please let us know if you have any questions along the journey.